Process of reducing metallic substances by volatilization and precipitation.



- G. P. KENDALL. P3001188 0P REDUCING KETALLIO SUBSTANCES BY VOLATILIZATION AND PRECIPITATION.

APPLIOATIO]! FILED JULY124, 1905.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

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wuzikb UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE FREDERICK RENDALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN REDUCTION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PROCESS OF REDUCING METALLIC SUBSTANCES BY VOLATILIZATION AND PRECIPITATION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE FREDERICK KENDALL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of New York,

State of New York, have invented a new and useful Process for Reducing Metallic Substances by Volatilization and Precipitation, of which the following is a specification.

My process relates to the treatment of metallic substances such as zinc, arsenic, sulfur, antimony and more particularly to minerals which readily volatllize and consists in a process for the reduction of mineral substances by volatilization and subsequent precipitation.

In the accompanying drawing I have.

shown a diagramlnatical view of a form of apparatus which may be employed in carrying out my process in which 1, designates the furnace in which the metallic substance is placed, which is in suitable connection with a wood retort 2 in which the hydrogenous gases are formed or produced.

3 designates the condenser which is in suit able connection with the furnace 1 and which is adapted to receive the fumes from the furnace, said condenser being also in suitable communication with the precipitating tank in. which the lighter particles of the fumes are prechitated.

5 designates a pump which is in suitable connection with the preci it-ating tank 4 and with the gas retort 6, the latter being in suitable connection also with each of the furnace 1 and the wood retort- 2.

7 designates the feed pipe for the furnace .l which is provided. with the upper and lower valves or gates 8 and 9, in. order that by the proper manipulation of the said valves, the

material may be fed to the furnace without the admission of air.

The ore or material to be reduced is placed in the furnace in a closed. chamber, suitably connected with a second closed chamber by means of valved pipes, there being also a durality of gas producing retorts adapted to maintain a uniform supply of gas.

In the operation there is always an excess of hydrogenous gases maintained in the various chambers through whicl'i the metallic fumes pass, so as to prevent the formation of any oxid. As the entrance of any external air to the chambers is prevented. all danger from explosion which might. arise if an excess Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Application flled'luly 24, 1905.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

Serial No. 271,041.

, of oxygen should be admitted is eliminated.

These retorts or chambers are adapted to be heated by any suitable means, the flame passing under and around said retorts and escaping through a chimney.

When the apparatus is operating, the fumes from the ores which have been placed in the closed chamber and wl'iich are separated by the heating operation are carried by the gases generated into the second chamber and thence into the condenser by means of a suitable valved pipe.

The condensing chamber is fitted with an internal water cooler, the latter having attached thereto a plurality of pipes through which a circulation of cooled water is main tained. The gases on entering this condenser are quickly reduced in this cooling chamber and the metallic particles precipitated into a bowl which is rigidly attached to the under side of the condenser. After this condensation, heat is applied to the metallic particles in the bowl, and they are then drawn-off as molten metal through a taphole in said bowl. The lighter particles, con sist-ing of sulfureted hydrogen and. hydrogcnous products, ascend in the condenser and pass off through esca e pipes which are provided with suitable Va ves. These ipes cad into precipitating tanks or vesses in which is contained a suitable supply of acid, said tanks being suitably lined with any acid resisting material. The sulfur is preci )itated. in this tank, as flower of sulfur, by means of acids and chlorids, sodium chlorirl being preferably employed. The hydrogen, freed from impurities, is drawn off by means of suction pumps. through. suitably valved pipes and passes thence into a gas holder from which lead ipes also provided with suitable valves and which extend under the differentretorts where they are connected to suitable burners, thus furnishing a source of heat for the combustion.

The hopper or ore bin is connected by suit able pipes to the retort in which the material to be reduced is placed, said pipe being pro-- vided with a plurality of valves. When it is desired to charge said retort, the up )er valve is opened, the material inserted, the upper valve then closed and the lower-valve opened thus permitting the material to pass into the retort, and thus enabling the ores to be ndmitted without in any appreciable way, altersuitable door ing 'the gases therein or permittin their esca therefrom. This retort cham er is pro- Yi' ed with a rake or rabble whereb the ore to 'be reduced may be spread in t e retort Without opening the same to the atmosphere. In the wood retort for producing the gas, an

material'containin h drogen and which vo atilizes readily un er eat, such as wood, for example, may be employed. When said retort is heated, the containing hydrogen, escapes from the material and passes over into the retort in which the ore tobe reduced is retained, 'passingthrough the metallic fumes as they rise from the mineral substances. The formation of any oxid is thus prevented.

After the wood has been treated for a'suflicient length of. time, usually from four to five hours, the gas producing retort is opened and the wood extracted therefrom through a this when coo ed, forrns an excellent charcoal. This charcoal must be cooled in a closed chamber or under cover in order to prevent its combustion. The retort in which the material to be reduced is laced is only opened at intervals, such as w en it is {effect a great economy when wood is employed to form the gas. All themetalli'c contents of the ore are saved,'being volatilized,-carried over and precipitated in the condenser or remaining in metal globules in the slag.

The sulfur is precipitated, as before ex plained, in the acid chamber as a pure article of commerce. Thegases generated are fused 'rovidedin said retort, and

for the heating of the different retorts, the charcoal which has been produced from the wood, remaining in the wood retort.- If a supply of wood cannot be obtained the hydrogen gas is produced b the decomposition of steam passing throug a mass of incandescent carbon. v

It is evident that many different kinds of material may be employed for generating the gas for reducing the metallic substances.

It will be evident that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art, wh1ch may come Within the scope of my invention and I do not therefore desire to be limited in every instance to the order of the steps taken as herein described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent; is 1. The rocess for reducing minerals, which consists in reducin the volatile particles of the ore in a close chamber, concurrently therewith subjecting the ore and fume to a current of wood gas and subsequently recipitating the metallic contents of the ume.

2. The process of reducing minerals, which consists in, volatilizin the component parts of the ore in a closed 0 amber, concurrent ly therewith subjecting the fume to a current of wood gas, and subsequently precipitating the metallic content of the fume. '3. The process of reducing ores, which consists in volatilizing the com onent parts thereof, concurrently therewitii subjecting the fume to a current of Wood ases, subse- (plientlIy preci itating the metal 10 portion of t e vo atilize gases, and then separating the lighter particles from said gases.

GEORGE FREDERICK KENDALL.

, Witnesses:

M. G. LU'KinNs, I

H. FAIRBANKS. 

